By Moses Akaigwe
At a touch under 3.7 metres long, the Hyundai i10 was the smallest winner in the 2023 Auto Express New Car Awards held recently in London. United Kingdom, but rarely has victory in the City Car class been more significant.
The i10 is Hyundai’s city car produced by the South Korean manufacturer since 2007, and made available in the Nigerian market by Hyundai Motors Nigeria Ltd, a division of Stallion Motors.
With urban streets becoming ever more crowded, and so many buyers trying to trim their bills in any way they can, cars like i10 have become more appealing by the minute.
The i10 is the best of the bunch. An update for 2023 has introduced some cosmetic tweaks, but it also brought in the type of tech you’d expect on much larger, pricier cars.
A digital instrument panel and mood lighting make the i10’s cabin feel more special, but most significant is the introduction of new safety systems, such as forward-collision warning that detects both pedestrians and cyclists, speed-limit assist and lane-keep lane-keep assist.
But gaining this tech hasn’t made the i10 any less enjoyable to drive. It’s a doddle to use in town; light steering, a tiny turning circle and dinky dimensions make it more than just easy to drive – it’s one of the few cars that’s actually fun in such tight spots.
Even so, it’s still grown up and refined enough to take on more open roads. For such a small car, the ride comfort is impressive, while the agile handling lets you make the most of its modest power, from 66bhp three-cylinder petrol to 99bhp N Line.